Car-brake



(No Model.)

' J. W. OWENS.

GAR BRAKE.

' No; 340,149. Patented Apr. 20, 188

N. PETERS. Pholvlithogriphir. Washington. DAC- NITED STATES JOHN WILLS ONVENS, OF DIANA MILLS, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO AR- THUR ROONEY, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,149, dated April 20, 1886.

Application filed November 28, 1885. Serial No. 184,207. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN WILLs OWENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Diana Mills, in the county of Buckingham and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Brakes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to car-brakes, the object being to provide improved means for applying the brakes automatically in descending a grade, and regulating the pressure of the brakes upon the wheels according to the incline of the grade.

A further object of the invention is to so construct and arrange the appliances mentioned that the brakes may be operated by hand from the top of the car, and to provide means for the purposes mentioned which shall be simple in their construction, effective in their operation, and strong and durable.

With these ends in view, the invention consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car with my improved braking apparatus applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 .is a longitudinal vertical section.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the car, upon the under side of which, to a beam, B, is attached a bracket, a, which is bifurcated, and in said bifurcated end of the bracket or is pivoted, midway its ends, a vertically-arranged lever, O, which is pivoted at its upper end to a projecting beam, D. This brake-beam B slides in guides b, andis adapted to be forced against the front faces of the wheels.

Pivoted to the lower end of the lever O is a bar, D, which extends forwardly to the front set of wheels, where it is pivotally connected with the lower end of a lever, c,which is pivoted midway its ends to a fulcrum or support, E, pivotally connected with a brakeshoe, G, which slides in brackets or guides d,

car A, near the lower end thereof, is a bracle et, H, which is divided at its outer end, and between the divided outer end of said bracket is pivoted a lever, I, the lower end of which is pivotally connected with E by a bar or rod, J. The upper end of this lever Iworks in an elongated slot, g, in a plate projecting from the top of the car, and pivoted to the upper side of the said plateis a'ratchet-plate, K, whereby the brakes may be held applied by engaging the ratchet-plate with the lever I, when the upper end of the same is forced rearwardly to cause the brakes to bear against the wheels.

Secured to the lever l is a bumper, L,which may be constructed of two sections, adj ustably fitted together, so that the bumper may be lengthened or shortened. An elastic cushion is provided on the outer end of the bumper. It will be seen that in descending a grade the bumper will strike against the car in advance of it, and will thus cause the lever J to be operated to apply the brakes automatically. The pressure of the brakes will be regulated by the force with which the bumper bears against the adjacent car. Thus in descending a steep grade the entire weight of the car will be thrown against the bumper, which will bear against the car in advance with great force, and thus cause the brakes to be held very tightly against the wheels.

c If desired or found necessary, a metal plate may be secured to the cars at the point where the bumpers of the brakes strike.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with the brake-beams and the bar J, of connections between said bar and the brake-beams, a vertically-arranged pivoted lever connected pivotally at its lower slotted plat-e secured to the top of the car and end to the bar J, and a bumper, L, pivoted to having teeth, substantially as set forth. IO said lever, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in 2. The combination, with the brake-beams presence of two witnesses. 5 and the bar J, of connections between the bar JOHN WILLS OVENS.

and braReheams, the lever I, pivoted to the Witnesses: front of the car and pivotally connected with \VM. J. LITTELL,

said her, a bumper pivoted to the lever, anda G. B. HARRIS. 

